Fluid proportioning and conditioning apparatus



H. THORESEN ETAL ,637, 10 FLUID PROPORTIONING AND CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 7, 1950 May 5, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 5, 1953 H. THORESEN EI'AL 2,637,310

FLUID PROPORTIONING AND CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 7, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS. W7%02MW Xflhed M M447- w May 5, 1953 L. H. THORESEN ETAL 2,637,310

FLUID PROPORTIONING AND CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 7, 1950 3 SheetsSheet 3 I I Q W INVENTORS.

thegdescription, accompanying drawings and apl l l l l l l Patented May 5, 1953 STATES harem QEFECEQ FLUID. rRoroRTIoNING' AND ooNDI TIONING APPARATUS Lorntz HaThdresemand Henry L. Thom'esen, Chicago, 111.;

Appiication November 7, 1950, Serial No. 194,556

9 Ciaims.'--*(Cl. 123123) Thi'sinvention;relates to an apparatus'for use p in proportioningand conditioningvarious inixg able fluids so as to btaina mixture of said fluids n id i ed.qua it s. h ch w b autom ti- Vided which is operatively connected to said cally maintained even though themixture is, sub:

jected tovarying conditions.

In automobile engines, for example, difficulty is frequently. encountered in maintainin -the propeifiifuelair ratio of thelcombustible mixture] under ,all operating conditions of the engine.

such diffioulty in partis due to thenonuniform physicalproperties of thefnel' and-also to the factfthat the jarnount of fuel, which iswithdrawn from the bowl of a conventional carburetorby suction and discharged into, the intake manifold of the enginepis not in direct proportion to the amount. of air drawn throughtheair intake pipe i under. variousoperating speeds, of thejengine. With.thefconventional carbnretor theproper or optimum air-,fuel ratio of the combustible mixturecan only be accuratelyset for one particular speed of theenginer A further-, difii culty. is encountered in achieving,

theldesired. vaporizationof: the fuel. anduniformity of distributionjthereoi.to all the engine cyline dersl This latter difficulty is due primarily to theJaryiI- g temperature of the-fuel andwto the, inability'of the lconventionaltype spray nozzles to.

cause-the liquid. .fuel' to be finelysprayed over a large area into the intakeinanitoldso as toenable the sprayed fnelitoihe more effectively exposedto the air stream flowing through the. intake pipe andlcombine more,readily-therewith to form a vaporized fuel.

Thus .i tuis one of the objects of this invention to providean apparatus which will. overcomethe above-enumerated difficulties and result in amore 1; eflicient-and economical operationr'of the engine.

It is. a further object of this invention to pro- Videan apparatusiw-hich is ple in construe l tiomfifie'ctivedn n nexpensive to plqducah...

Further. and additional objects willappear from pendedclaims.

In accordance withoneembod-iinentof thisinventionr. an apparatus is. provided for proportion- Q ing various mi able-fiuidsto form ja rnixture of. a

desir e d quality.- ,The apparatuscomprisesa mix- 7 ing chamber, an imputconduit forone-fluid leading to. saidv chamber..;and a second imput conduit if fora second,fiuid leadingalso .to. said. chamber. Disposed within the first Iconduit is an adjustable I L; metering velvet. Disposedwithin the'second. com

duit is a control valve. 'The two valves are operatively connected So that the initial; setting of f the meteringwalve is dependent upon the settingof the'control valve; A compensating unit-is-prometering valve to adjust the initial setting of said valve' while the setting of the controlvalV- remainsunchanged; "The operationof the unit is dependent upon the output'of said mixingchamber.

72 m re mm' und n ndi e10f Q n'T vention reference should be made to the draw- 3 ings wherein;

Fig." l is a fragmentary front elevational view of the j apparatus 1 showing 4 the mixing chamber j partially cut away to expose one positioni-of the butterfly valve when the' engine is being .acceleratedy A changedpositionfof thefmetering f valve control armis *shownindotte'd linesg" e 2 vis a o t larj ivi f h ja parafle shown I in Fig.1;

Fig. is a fragmentary. back elevational view '1,

of the apparatus;

Figg iis a; right end View of the appa latl s shownj Fi 5 is fr m n ar s ti n iew he. eel-J j J: paratus taken along line .5 5. of Fig 2 the rela' -l tiveposition of the vanedshaftis shown'whel'iff the engine is idling J Figf-fi is a fragmentary sectional view of the.

apparatus taken along'line 6-6 of Fig. 1

Fig. 7 15 a fragmentary sectional view of the...

apparatus, taken along. line llof FigQZ;

Fi'g 38 is afragmentary sectional viewpf the] j appara usy nel ne 6 5 f. ig. 7; an i.

Fig. 9 isa modifiedforrnof thefuelcompensat ing mechanism. 1

Referring now to the drawings ,and' more par; ticularlyto Fig. l a fuel conditioner and meter; ing apparatus is ShOWl'l'iIl this instance for use in combination with an internal combustion-yen; ginecomprising a housing iii secured by suitable; I

means to any convenient part of the enginelll.

Formed within housing 14 a nd extending the en;

tire lengththel eof, is a narrow, open-end passage l2. Mounted on the upper side of housing IE3 is 1, a liquid fuel reservoir it having disposedtherein a heating coil i i. The lower and upper ends i5 .1 and. 15. respectively, of the coil it projectbeyond the reservoir and arefconnected to the cooling systemof the engine; The cooling nediurn sub sequent to its absorbin the heat from the engine; is circulated through coil i l prior to its being re 1 ,i turned to the radiator Of theeng n not. shown.

Liquid fuel is directed. from thefuel pumpof the engine, not shown; into reservoir #3 through a fuel line i l. A second line l8 extends from reservoir l3 and has its lower end 23 connected to one end of passage l2. The other end IQ of tube l8 terminates within the lower part of reservoir l3. The fluctuating pressure from the fuel pump, not shown, is equalized within the reservoir by reason of an air cushion occupying the upper portion of the reservoir. An air pressure of approximately three pounds per square inch is created within this air cushion by the fuel pump. The amount of pressure created, however, will depend on the size of the pump and the speed of operation thereof.

The check valve 2 I, which is positioned at the connection between passage 12 and tube I8, is spring set at a pressure slightly less than that maintained within the reservoir thus preventing flow of the liquid fuel through tube l8 when the fuel pump or engine is inoperative.

Affixed to the other end of passage 12 is a connector tube 22 having the free end thereof terminating within the intake pipe 23 of the engine. Intake pipe 23 communicates with the intake manifold of the engine, not shown. Secured to the terminating end of tube 22 is a discharge spray nozzle 24. Nozzle 24 comprises a pair of disclike members 25a and 25b which are arranged in superimposed relation. Disclike member 25a mounted on the terminating end of tube 22 is provided with an aperture 26 which is concentric with respect to the internal passage of tube 22. The upper disclike member 252) is secured to a brace element 2! which in turn is secured at either end to the interior surface of intake pipe 23 by welding or any other suitable means. The spacing 28 between disclike members 25a and 25b is such that the liquid fuel, when discharged from the nozzle, will adhere to the opposing surfaces 29 of the disclike members and thereby cause the fuel to be sprayed radially in all directions over a wide area. Thus, due to the wide area of spray of the fuel, greater combining of .the fuel in the air stream will result.

The air intake into pipe 23 is regulated by a conventional type butterfly valve 30 which is rotatably mounted within the pipe and spaced above discharge nozzle 24. Butterfly valve 30 is connected directly by a link 3| to the accelerator pedal of the engine, not shown, see Fig. 2.

Mounted centrally of housing It] and disposed within passage I2 is a metering valve 32. Valve 32 is of a needle type and comprises a threaded stud 33 having the inner end 34 thereof tapered and adapted to be restrictively positioned withing passage 12. stantially a right angle with respect to passage l2 and has the other end 35 thereof exposed. Keyed to the exposed end 35 is an elongated lever 35 having an elongated, longitudinally extending slot 37 formed therein.

Metering valve 32 and butterfly valve 30 are operatively connected to one another by a pair of links 38 and 39. Link 38 is the longer of the two. The links are pivotally connected to one another at point 40. Mounted on the lower end of link 38 and extending transversely therefrom in both directions is a pin 4|. One end of pin 4| is disposed within a slot 31 formed in lever 36. Link 39 is secured at one end to shaft 30' on which is mounted butterfly valve 30.

The initial setting of the stud 33 of metering valve 32, as heretofore mentioned, is determined by the setting of butterfly valve 30 which in turn is determined by the depression of the accelerator pedal. The air enters intake pipe 23 through The stud 33 is disposed at suban air filter, not shown, and combines with the liquid fuel in the vicinity of nozzle 24. The direction of flow of the air in pipe 23 is indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1. Subsequent to the forming of the combustible, vaporized mixture it is directed to the intake manifold of the engine, not shown.

Formed transversely within housing In and spaced above passage I2 is a pair of hollow cylinders or cavities 42 and 43 which form a part of a fuel compensating mechanism. The cylinders 42 and 43 are interconnected with each other by means of passages 44 and 45. The cylinders 42 and 43 and the passages 44 and 45 are filled with a common liquid, preferably a medium weight oil. The oil is introduced into cylinders 42 and 43 through ports 49 formed in housing I0. Threaded plugs 49' are provided for capping these ports. Rotatably mounted within cylinder 42 is an impeller 45. The impeller comprises a shaft 4! supported at either end by the housing and has one end 48 thereof projecting beyond housing [0. The exposed end 48 of the shaft is operatively connected to the drive shaft of the engine, thus, the speed of the impeller is directly proportional to the speed of the engine. Keyed to shaft 47 and disposed centrally of cylinder 42 is a wheel 50 having a plurality of angularly disposed grooves 5| formed symmetrically about the periphery thereof. A pair of spacer sleeves are disposed on either side of wheel 5). Disposed intermediate the sleeves and the ends of the cylinder are a pair of sealing gaskets 53. As the wheel 50 is rotated the angular grooves 5| cause the common liquid to circulate consecutively through cylinder 42, passage 44, cylinder 43, passage 45 and back into cylinder 42. The greater the speed of rotation of wheel 50, the greater the pressure transferred by the circulating 021 from cylinder 42 to cylinder 43.

Rotatably mounted within cylinder 43 is a shaft 54 supported at either end by the housing 18. Mounted on shaft 54 and extending radially therefrom, is an elongated vane 55. Mounted above shaft 54 and extending radially downwardly from the interior surface of cylinder 43 is an elongated baflle 55. One end 51 of shaft 54 extends beyond housing IO and has keyed thereto a curved lever 58. Lever 58 has formed therein an arcuate slot 60 which is adapted to receive one end of pin 4| which is mounted on link 38. Lever 58 is biased in a counterclockwise direction by means of a spring 6|. One end of spring BI is secured to a finger portion 62 formed on lever 58 and the other end is secured to the exposed end 35 of stud 33. Shaft 54 is provided with sealing gaskets 59 to prevent leakage of the common liquid about the shaft. As the common liquid is circulated from cylinder 42 into cylinder 43 by the impeller 45, a force is exerted on vane by the circulated liquid causing the shaft 54 to rotate in a clockwise direction. The clockwise movement of shaft 54 causes a clockwise movement of lever 58 which in turn causes lever 36, which is keyed to stud 33 of metering valve 32, to be rotated in a counterclockwise direction from its initial setting, thereby effecting a greater opening of the metering valve. The setting of butterfly valve remains constant while the initial setting of valve 32 is adjusted. The initial setting of metering valve 32 and lever 58 is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 and indicated as position A. The adjusted setting of metering valve 32 causes an optimum fuel-to-air ratio of the vaporized mixture to be assume.

obtained thereby.-- efiecting': more 1 eificient opera tion of th n ine.attanyi particularrs eed; As the; speed of: the engine is; decreased; by; the; butterflyvalve 30.: assuming azmoreahorizontal position,, lever. 58 will return: towards: position A. by reason. of. spring: 60,. thereby effecting. closing. of metering valve 3isandxreducing; the; amount.

of. liquid. fuel injected. 1 into pipe 23. in. propor.--

tion to. the: changed engine speedso: assto main;- tain the optimumfuel-air ratio ofqthe combustible-.mixture; Ihe shapepofslotzfifl. in lever 58-. is: dependent uponzthe; calculated. optimum fuel.- tor-air. ratios: of themixture. over. a wide. range; ofenginespeeds;

A modified form: of; fuel. compensating; moon-- anism: is, shown; in: Fig. 9..- comprising a hollow cylindrical unit 61; fi118d'.Willh aasuitahle-liquid. and an impeller, 62, rotatably mounted within. the. unit 1H,. One end portion of. theimpeller shaft 6.3: extends through. an opening formed in. the end of" unit Bl andqis. operatively connected tothe-drive shaft of the. engine. The other end of; the impeller shaft. terminates: within. theunit and has. keyed thereto an impeller wheeled. Wheel o l. is:- of. a construction similar to wheel 50' as heretofore described. Upon: rotation of. the impeller wheel 64 a high pressure isdeveloped in. side A of the unit. iii. while a. low. pressure is. created in: side 23.. Suflicientclearance is pro-- vided between. thaperiphery ofthewheel and the-interior surface of*the;unit.toeifect bleeding of the liquid from side. A: to side-B oi the unit, when the. speed. of rotation. of thewheel es is decreased. A sleeve 65 and sealing gasket to. hold wheel 64in a fixed position. Within unit 6i. A, liquid, supply 6-] is connected by a suitable conduit fiilto side.,B.-Ofthaunit-and keeps the. unit full of liquid at alitimes; Mounted over theend ofthe highpressulesidegof the unit 61 is a diaphragm lllwhich is; adapted. to; normally assume a. concave, position, as shown. As the pressure in side, increases: the; diaphragm iii; is. causeclto flex. as. showrrin; dotted lines. Connected to the exposed side ofxthe, diaphragm is a,ratchet'. arm H which is, adapted. 17011110376. in a longitudinal direction. upon-.flexingof thedi-- aphragm'. Ratchet. teeth 1-2. are. formed'on the free end of arm Tl: andare adapted. to. mesh Witha sprocket 13.. The: sprocket isikeyed toa: shaft M.- on' which the curved; lever; 58;; is; also. keyed. The diaphragm is held. in. its, normally. concaveposition by acoil spring-l5 which embraces portion; of arm 'i.l-.. Ones, end. of the; spring engagesthe diaphragm. l0. andthe other end engages a. cap 16 whichxisj threadedonto the corresponding end of the unit; 6|. An opening is provided. in the :cap throughwhich the ratchet arxnll extends...

7 While the apparatus; is:shownzfor;use in this instance in combinationwith, an: internal come bustion en ine, it is; to. be: understood,..oi course, thatit isnot to-be-limitedto; such use-.but may. be. employed inother-instances; where, for example, theintegration of; various; movable: parts ofzamachine is. of utmost importance;.

The advantages obtained. through i the use of this. apparatus, in conjunction with. an. internal combustion engine. are, among others; (a) optimum .fuel-air ratio for various engine operating speedsthereby minimizingjfuelqv waste; (1)) constant physicaL-properties. and pressure of the fuel, making ,moreaccuratemeteringzthereof possible; (c) constant viscosity and; temperature of the. liquid ,:fuel thereby making,; reater ,vaporizationof. the-lfuel possible :with:.consequent:equality of distribution of. the? vaporized. fuel; to; allt the: engine cylinders. and. also;mor.e efficient-.andeem; plete; combustion. of; the vaporized fuel; (d) a; conical pattern of. finely r sprayed fuel, from the. nozzle. results causing increased vaporization. of: the; fuel thereby resulting. in more rapid: and complete combustion: thereof.

While. aparticular embodiment of. this inven-- tion is shown above, it .will be understood. of course,,that the. invention is. not. to: be limited thereto, since many modifications; may be. ma.de.. and it is contemplated, therefore, by the, app: pended claims, to cover any such modifications as fall. within. the true spirit and scope-of. this; invention We claim:

1.. An-apparatus for. use in proportioningmixa able fluids to produce a mixture of desired-pro.-= portions, comprising a mixing chamber, an im;-. putoonduitfor one mixable fluidleading to said: chamber, an adjustable metering. valve disposed. within said conduit, a, second imput conduit for: a second mixable fluid leading to said-chamber; an adjustable flow-valve disposed within-.saidz second conduit, an operative connectionabetween said valves whereby the initial setting" of-the; metering valve. is dependent; upon' the setting. of said flow valve, and compensating; means in: cooperative relation With saidfmetering. valve; for: adjusting the initial setting of. said metering valve; said means comprising a hollow unit. filled with a common fluid, a pressure develo.ping"ele-- merit for said. fluid disposed within said. unit, the amount of pressure developed by said element being dependent upon the output from said mixing chamber, and a pressure-responsive member disposed within said unit and operatively: 0011-.- nected to said metering valve.

2. An apparatus for use-in proportioning mixable fluids to produce a. mixture of desired'pro portions, comprising a mixing chamber, an: im put conduit for one mixable fluid leadingto said chamber, an adjustable metering valve disposed within said conduit, a second imput conduit-for a second mixable fluid leading to said chamber, an-adjustabl'e flow valve disposed Within said sec-- ond conduit, an operative connection between: said valves whereby the initial setting of the: metering valve is dependent upon the setting- 0f" said flow valve, and compensating means in 00- operative relation with said metering'val've for adjusting the initial. setting of said metering: valve; said'means comprising a: hollow unit filled with a common fluid, a pressure developing element'for said fluid disposed within said-unit, the operation of said element. being dependentupon the output from said chamber; and a..m0V.-' able member disposed within said unit and on eratively connected to said-metering; valve, the movement-of said member beingdependentupon the pressure of said fluid.

3.. Anapparatus for use in proportioning mix: able fiuidsto produce a mixture .of desired pro: portions, comprising a mixing chamber, an.im-.- put conduit for one fluid leading into. said chamber, an adjustable metering valve disposed within. said'con'duit, a second imput conduitfor a second fluid leading into said chamber, a flow valve disposed Within said second conduit; an operative connection between said valves whereby the initial setting of the metering valve is dependent upon the setting of the flow valve, and compen sating means actuated by the. output from-said mixing chamber andin cooperative engagement withisaidmetering valve for adjusting the initial setting thereof while the setting of said flow valve remains relatively fixed; said means comprising a pair of interconnected hollow members filled with a common fluid, an impeller disposed within one of said members and motivated by the output from said chamber for effecting pressure to said liquid, a pressure responsive element movably mounted within said other member and operatively connected to said metering valve.

4. An apparatus for use in proportioning mixable fluids to produce a mixture of desired proportions, comprising a mixing chamber, an imput conduit for one fluid leading into said chamber, an adjustable metering valve disposed within said conduit, a second imput conduit for a second fluid leading into said chamber, a flow valve disposed within said second conduit, an operative connection between said valves whereby the initial setting of the metering valve is dependent upon the setting of the flow valve, and compensating means actuated by the output from said mixing chamber and in cooperative engagement with said metering valve for adjusting the initial setting thereof while the setting of said flow valve remains relatively fixed; said means comprising a pair of interconnected hollow cylinders filled with a common fluid, an elongated impeller rotatably mounted within one of said cylinders for effecting pressure to said fluid, said impeller being motivated by the output from said chamber, an elongated pressure responsive element rockably mounted within the other cylinder and operatively connected to said metering valve.

, 5. A proportioning apparatus for use in obtaining a proper fuel and air mixture for various op- 1 erating conditions of an internal combustion engine the latter having an air intake conduit, a flow valve mounted within said conduit, and a mixing chamber connected to said conduit, a pressure equalizing fuel reservoir, a fuel conduit leading from said reservoir to said chamber, an adjustable metering valve disposed within said fuel conduit intermediate said chamber and reservoir, and an operative connection between said flow and metering valves, the initial setting of said metering valve being dependent upon the setting of said flow valve, said apparatus comprising a pair of interconnected hollow members filled with a common liquid, an elongated impeller rotatably mounted within one of said members for effecting circulation of said liquid between said members, said impeller being operatively connected to said engine and responsive to the speed thereof, and an elongated element rockably mounted within said other member and operatively connected to said metering valve, said element being actuated by the circulation of said liquid.

6. A proportioning apparatus for use in btaining a combustible mixture having the proper air-to-fuel ratio for various operating conditions of an internal combustion engine, said apparatus comprising a pressure equalizing fuel preheating reservoir, a fuel conduit communicating with said reservoir, an adjustable metering valve mounted within said fuel conduit and operatively connected to the air intake control valve for said engine whereby the initial setting of said metering valve is dependent upon the setting of said air intake control valve, and a compensating control unit operatively connected to said metering valve for adjusting independently the initial setting thereof, said unit being operatively connected to said engine and responsive to the speed thereof, said speed being determined by the setting of said air intake flow valve.

7. A fuel proportioning apparatus for use with an internal combustion engine the latter having an air intake tube and an air intake control valve associated with said tube to obtain a desired combustible mixture for various operating conditions of the engine, a fuel imput conduit communicating with said air intake tube, and a fuel metering valve mounted within said conduit and operatively connected to said air intake control valve whereby the initial setting of said metering valve is dependent upon the setting of said control valve, said apparatus comprising a pair of hollow interconnected cylinders mounted on said engine and filled with a common liquid, one of said cylinders provided with a fixed, longitudinal, radially extending baffle, and an elongated shaft rockably mounted within said bafiled cylinder and operatively connected to said metering valve, said shaft having a longitudinally extending vane mounted thereon, an elongated impeller rotatably mounted within the other of said cylinders and actuated by the output of said engine for effecting circulation of said liquid, the movement of said shaft being effected by said circulating liquid.

8. A fuel proportioning apparatus for use with an internal combustion engine having an air intake tube and an air intake control valve associated with said tube to obtain a desired combustible mixture for various operating conditions of the engine, said apparatus comprising a pressure equalizing fuel preheating reservoir, a fuel imput conduit communicating with said reservoir and said air intake tube, an adjustable metering valve mounted within said conduit intermediate said reservoir and tube, said metering valve being provided with a slotted control arm, a link operatively connecting said air intake control valve and said slotted arm, the initial setting of said arm being determined by the setting of said control valve, and a compensating unit operatively connected to said engine and said control arm for effecting independent adjustment of said arm subsequent to the initial setting thereof; said unit comprising a pair of interconnected hollow cylinders filled with a common liquid, an impeller rotatably mounted within one of said cylinders for effecting circulating of said liquid between said cylinders, said impeller having one end thereof exposed and operatively connected to said engine and responsive to the speed thereof, a shaft rockably mounted within the other cylinder and having one end thereof exposed, a lever having an arcuated slot formed therein keyed to the exposed end of said shaft, said lever being in cooperative engagement with said link and arm, the movement of said shaft being effected by the circulating liquid.

9. A fuel proportioning apparatus for use with an internal combustion engine having an air intake tube and an air intake control valve associated with said tube to obtain a desired combustible mixture for various operating conditions of the engine, said apparatus comprising a housing mountable on said engine and having a passage formed therein, a pressure equalizing fuel reservoir mounted on said housing, a conduit extending from said reservoir to one end of said passage, a check valve disposed within said conduit, a second conduit extending from the other end of said passage and terminating substantially centrally within said air intake tube, metermg valve mounted within said passage and having a portion thereof protruding from said housing, said protruding portion being operatively connected to said air intake control valve, the initial setting of said metering valve being dependent upon the setting of said control valve, a discharge nozzle secured to the terminating end of said second conduit, said nozzle having a pair of relatively fiat deflectors arranged in close superimposed relation and transverse to the flow of said air in said tube, one of said deflectors embracing the terminating end of said second conduit, and a compensating unit mounted within said housing and in operative engagement with said metering valve and responsive to the speed of said engine for adjusting the initial setting of said metering valve while the setting of said control valve remains relatively fixed; said unit comprising a pair of interconnected hollow cylinders filled with a common liquid, an impeller rotatably mounted within one of said cylinders for effecting circulation of said liquid between said cylinders, said impeller being operatively connected to said engine to respond to the speed thereof, a vaned shaft rockably mounted within the other of said cylinders and being responsive to the movement of said circulating liquid, one end of said vaned shaft being operatively connected to said metering valve.

LORNTZ H. THORESEN.

HENRY L. THORE'SEN. 

